Velocipede



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Patented June 19 @50i {finan-ac o (No Model.) y 4 sheets-sheet s.

' G'. T. WARWICK.

VBLOGIPEDB. vNo. 384,945. Patented June 1'9, 1888.

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G. TQ WARWICK. VELOIPEDE.

No. 384,945 Patented June' 19, 41888.

N. PETERS: Pkdvmbogrlpher. Walhinglull. ILC.

. UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE T. VVARVICK, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE L W'ARWICK CYCLE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

VELOCIPEDE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 384,945, dated June 19, 1888.

Application filed May 18, 1887.

To all whom t may concern..-

Be it known that I, GEORGE T. WARWICK, a citizen of England, residing at Springfield, in the county of Hampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Velocipedcs, of whichthc following is a specification.

This invention relates to velocipedes, and pertains to improvements in the details of the construction thereof, all as hereinafter fully Y described, and pointed ont in the claims.

In the drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a ve locipede embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the frame and the rear wheel, the backbone and the saddlepost being shown in cross section. Fig. 3 is a side elevation ofthe rear supporting'arm of the saddle and of the springs connected therewith. Fig. 4 is a side elevation, partly in section, of portions of the fork-head,lhandlebar frame, and backbone, and the backbone-spindle. Figs. 5 to 18 illustrate detail parts, hereinafter fully described.

In the drawings, A is the frame of the ve locipede, of suitable metallic construction, in the rear end of which is hung, on a suitable axle, the rear wheel, B, of the vehicle. The backbone D is rigidly secured by one end to the forward end of said frame, and has on its upper end the usual spindle, 2. A saddlepost, 3, has its lower end rigidly secured to said frame A, as shown, having a socket in its upper end. A metallic arm, 4, having one end entering said socket in the post 3, is secured to the latter by a set-screw, 5, whereby provision is made for holding the saddle at 'diffen ent elevations. Said saddle consists of a seat, 6, of leather or of similar material, having one end attached to the metallic arm 7, which is secured in turn to said arm 4. The said saddle is securely attached to the frame A by means of said post 3 and the arm 4, the lat-ter havingsecured thereon aspring-box, 8, having an overhanging top, 10. The lower end of a rigid metallic arm, 9, to which the rear end of the saddle-seat 6 is attached, is pivoted in said springbox, and has thereon a plate, 12, extending substantially in a plane with the top and bottom of said springbox. Two springs,

Serial No. 238,589. (No model.)

13, preferably of rubber, are inserted in said box 8, between which said plate 12 on arm 9 extends, and said springs are tightly forced into said box in such manner as to cause said plate to be compressed tightly between said springs, and thus arranged whichever way the upper end of arm 9 swings it meets the resistance of one of said springs, thereby providing a rear support for the saddle-seathaving great ease of motion.

Improved ball-bearings for the ends of the fork 14 and the axle of the front wheel` and for the rear wheel (also applicable to the pcd als, if desired) are constructed as follows, Flgs. 11 to 16 illustrating detail parts of said ballbearings, and Fig. 9 showing the manner of the application thereof to the bearings of the rear wheel of the vehicle:

In Figs. 11 and 12 are shown the lowerends of the arms c of the fork 14, Fig. 12 being a front elevation and Fig. 11 a' perspective view. On the lower end of each of said forkarms is formed a cylindrical case,15, in which are contained the ball-bearing devices below described. t Y

Fig. 9 is a side elevation, partly 1n sectlon, of the axle-box K (showing the outer screwed ends of the axle) of the rear wheel of a velocipede or bicycle, the enlarged ends H of which constitute cases serving the same purposes as said cases 15 on the fork-arms. Said case 15 has a perforated arm, e, extending laterally from one side thereof, as shown, in whicn 1s placed a stud, 16, on which is hung a pine ion, 17.

In Fig. 12 the case 15 is shown with an axle- "sleeve, 1S, (shown in perspective view in Fig. 14,) thereinin a groove, fr, around said sleeve, there being shown a ball indicated by dotted lines. On the base of said case 15 are two projections, n, `(see Fig. 12,) on the opposite sides of said sleeve 18. The sleeve 18,having the said annular groovex therein, is made preferably of hardened steel, and is suitably secured on an axle so that it rotates with the latter; or, if preferred, 'the axle may be grooved, as is said sleeve,and made of proper diameter, thereby obviating the use of the sleeve. When said sleeve is employed and secured to an axle, "as aforesaid, it performs IOO the function of the surface of the aXle in its action against the bearing-balls 19, below re' ferred to.

A ball-case,E,(shown in perspective View in Figs. 13 and 16 and in section in the ease 15 in Fig 15,)is providetl,which is adapted to be placed within the case 15. sists of an internally-grooved transversely-divided ring, consisting of the parts 20. Said two parts 20 of the case E have an annular groove, 21, in their inner surfaces, and when placed in the case the annulargroove 21 is. brought opposite the annular groove x in thesleeve or axle above described, and in said Ytwo annular grooves is placed a series of.

when the said balls roll in the annular groove.

21 therein.

Fig. 1G shows the rear side of the ring-case E, and Fig. 13 the front side. of cach of the parts 2O of the case E is a lateral projection, 230, having a beveled side, as shown. 20, when the latter inclose a sleeve or an aXle and the series of balls 19, is that shown in Figs. 13 and 1G-that is to say, with their adjoining ends separated to allow of drawing said parts toward each other to take up the.

wear of balls or grooves and keep the bearing parts face to face. Said case E having been placed in the case 15, as aforesaid, a ringnut, 23, :is screwed into case 15, as shown in Figs. 15 and 16, against the said beveled projections on the parts 2O of said ball-case E, the inner edge of' said ring-nut being correspondingly beveled to fit said projections 230, whereby the parts are forced toward each other. Said ring-nut has the border of the flange on its outer end toothed, as shown in Fie. 11, and it engages with said pinion 17, which is secured to the oase 15, as above described. The purpose of said pinion engagement with the ring-nut 23 is to provide means for turning said nut slightly for nice adjustments by rotating the pinion 17 by means of any suitable instrument, and the pinion is rigidly secured on its stud after such adjustments by turning the screw 24 tightly against it, said screw entering the end ot the stud on which said pinion turns. If preferred, the ring-nut 23 may be made without said toothed or geared border, and the pinion 17 may be omitted from the case 15, and dependence for holding the ring-nut in place in the latter be had upon the tightness of the tit of the screw between said nut and the interior of the case.

To provide improved means for retaining the foot of the riderof the vehicle on the pedal, the latter is constructed as shown in Figs. 1, 17, and 18, the latternamcd figure being an Said case E con-I On the front side.

The normal position of the said parts end View with one of the rollersupporting arms broken off, and Fig. 17 being asideview of the pedal having my improvements applied thereto, and showing in dotted lines thereon the end of a boot. The said pedal improvements consist in hanging on the opposite ends of the pedalametallic foot-grip, 25, having its ends turned inward, as shown in Fig. 17, and having a free movement on the end of the pedal toward and from the center of the latter. Said foot-grips are provided with suitable collars, 26, which [it suitably on said ends 27 of the pedal, and they are united by two spiral springs-one on each side of and parallel with the center shaft of the pedalone of which springs, 28, is shown in dotted linesin Fig. 17. That portion of the foot-grip 29 under the bent portion thereof may, if desired, be tilled with rubber, leather, or other similar yielding material to provide a, yielding bearing against the boot. The said springs 28, which are attached between the two footgrips 25, cause the latter to be held against suitable stops on the center bar of the pedal,and when the rider places his foot on the latter he forces the toe of the boot between said grips, thereby forcing them more or less apart against the retracting action of said springs, and thereby the grips are held in engagement with the opposite sides ofthe boot, and the feet ofthe rider are more constantly retained on the pedal,but not so rigidly as to prevent their easy disengagement at the pleasure of the rider. The ordinary rubber rollers on each side of the eenter bar of the pedal, one of which, 30, is shown in Fig. 18, or any other suitable foot-bearing, may be used in connection with the above-described foot-grip.

Roller-bearings for the backbone-spindle 2 within the fork-head 31 are provided and constructed as follows, and thereby the utmost ease of rotary movement between said parts is secured:

Fig. 4 shows a portion ofthe forli-head 3l, on the rear side ot' which is a shortarm or boss, 32, (shown in section in said iigure,) in which is placed a steel or bronze-metal step, 33, having a spindle-seattherein having flaring sides, as shown. The lower end of the spindle 2 is of corresponding form to said seat and has interposed between it and the sides of the seat a series of hardened -inetal rollers, 3i. The upper end ot' thefork-head 31has a rearwardlyextending arm, 35, and in said arm is fitted a vshort screw-bolt, 36, having a set-nut, 37, on

its upper end, as shown, and an oil-hole, m, through it. rllhe lower endY of the bolt 36 has a seat formed therein of suitable forni to receive the cone-shaped upper end of the spindle 2, and between the sides of the said end of the spindle and said seat in the end of bolt 36 are placed a series of hardened-metal rollers, 38, thereby forming a bearing ,for the upper end of said spindle, substantially the same as is provided for the lower end thereof', as above described.

An improved handle-bar holder and frame TOO for the handlcbar 439 are provided, and, said parts are constructed as shown in Eigs. 4, 5, and

8. A bifurcated handle-barholder frame,40, is pivotally attached to the upper end of the fork-head 31 by a bolt, g, and incloses between its bifurcated endssaid arm 35, but is capable of swinging free of the latter and of being fixed in different positions by the bolt g. Said holder `frame has a tubular extension, 41, thereon at right angles to its bifurcated part, having a set-screw, 42, through one side.

The handlebar holder43 basa leg, 44,which enters said tubular extension 41, and is secured therein by said set-screw 42, and the handle-bar 39 is secured in the usual arms (see Fig. 8) on said leg 44.

By means of the above-described handle-bar connections the rider of the vehicle can adjust the handlebar toward and from him, and can raise or lower it to bring it to the most advantageous position and one best suited to his stature.

By reference to Fig. 1 the relative arrangement of the wheels of the vehicle andthe frame thereof is shown, the rear wheel, B, having a sprocketwheel and chain connection with a crank shaft, 45, hung under the frame A, whereby the velocipede is propelled. A brakebar,46,is pivoted in frame A, having a shoe, 47, on either end capable of simultaneous engagement with the tires of both wheels, by means of an upwardly-projecting arm thereon having a foot-rest, 48, thereon, against which the rider pushes to swing the brake. A spring, 49, connected between the brake and the backbone D, holds the brake-shoes away from the wheels. V

To provide an improved yielding or spring connection between the fork 14 and the fork4 40,11ead 3l, whereby any sudden shock is obthat whatever strain may be brought upon the front wheel and its fork it encounters the counteracting effect of the spring action of said rubber thirnble, and all shock is avoided and the tendency to breakage of the parts is` greatly lessened.

l/Vhat I claim as my invention isl. -A velocipede-saddle consisting of a seat, 6, of leather or similar material, a spring-box, S, attached to the frameof the machine beneath the seat, a rigid arm, 9, pivoted to and having one end extending into said spring-` box and its upper end extending upward and connected with the rear end of said seat, two springs inclosed in said box, between which the lower end of said arm extends,and`an arm,

7, attached to said frame and` having the forward end of said seat connected thereto, sub-` stantially as set forth.

2. A ball-bearing forvelocipedes and analogous vehicles, consisting of the cylindrical case1 15,haviug the internal p roj ectioiis,n,t11e sleeve 1S,extcnding throughsaid case, having an annular groove therein, the ball-case E, consisting of an internally-grooved transversely-di vided ring having the beveled projections 230 thereon and the depressions 22, a series Of balls inclosed in said ring,.having a bearing in the annular groove in said sleeve, and a ring-uut, 23, having one end beveledA and a screw-connection wit-h theinterior of said case 15, and engaging with said ball-case, whereby its parts are drawn together,co1nbined and operating substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with a velocipede forky head having a socket in its lower end, of a fork having a spindle thereon entering said socket, aud a rubber thimble, 50, interposed between said spindle and the inner sides of said socket, substantially as set forth.

4. The handle-bar holder 44, combined with h the holdenfranne 40,having a socket toreceive the end of said holder, and having a pivotal connection withthe upper end of the forkbead, and a set screw or screws to lock said holder in the frame and permit of its adjustment therein, substantially as set forth.

GEO. T. WARWICK. Witnesses: GHARLEs W. MANN, VILLLAM C. MUELLER. 

